Cancer can't contain this classy crooner

Those of you have been around karaoke a while know the stock characters who frequent the activity.

From Bellingham to Seattle to Vegas to New York, similar karaoke personalities pop up in the crowd - the local diva with "her song," that guy who always sings THAT song, too-drunk-to sing guy, the shy newbie, the Girls-Just-Wanna-Have-Fun squad giggling through the classic karaoke tune. But there is one character who is not stock, but rather an enigma, one you will only find if you venture north for your karaoke fix, her name is Maria Leighton, and there is nobody else like her anywhere.

At 73, one would expect Maria to spend time in her garden, or rocking the grandkids on her lap, or maybe playing the slots, but these actvities hold none of the excitement this amazing lady needs to fulfill her life. Maria regularly attends many Whatcom County karaoke shows, where she wows crowds every time with her polished and unique renditions of songs ranging from "Black Velvet," "Witchcraft," and "Flashdance," to a favorite of hers, "What the World Needs Now."

Her choice of "hobby" is all the more amazing when you consider that Maria is currently battling breast cancer. But not even this pernicious force can keep her from performing; she has been known to walk in and croon her tune mere hours after receiving chemotherapy. She puts up a good fight, and with one more treatment to go, then radiation and a very positive prognosis from her doctor, it appears Maria is winning and may soon bust out "We Are the Champions."

In what should be a weakened state, you may think this tiny woman, with her bejeweled dresses, coiffed hair and heels, would just stand and sing quietly; not Maria. Although Maria says that in her youth she was very much "in her shell," and dominated by a strict family who told her, "If you move your hips, you'll end up in hell," none of this shyness remains. She attributes her "release from this shell" to her time spent working with well-known dance team Teo and Isabelle Morca. With their help, Maria studied, but she admits never did master, Flamenco dance; and then used her skills and newfound freedom to perform at birthday parties, weddings and on local stages.

Today you might find this freebird, a former Pollyanna, tossing her fedora and tie into the cheering crowd while singing “Broadway.”

To catch a glimpse of this karaoke superstar, check just about any Whatcom County venue; but your best bet is to find her wherever her favorite host, Rocky of Stallion Entertainment, is - the Cabin Tavern or Glynn's Pub in Bellingham. Why these shows? Maria knows the business, and she claims Rocky's shows have sound unparalleled by any other; and Rocky himself, she says, is a bundle of energy and a dear man. She also attributes her loyalty to these shows to the warmth of the regulars. In fact, when asked what her favorite thing about karaoke is, she replies, “The beautiful people - all their positive energy and compliments just make me cry.” Maria told me that the audience gives her songs wings. “Somebody else said that, or I heard it in a song, but it's beautiful,” she laughed.

The future for Maria Leighton does not include just sitting and warming a stool, waiting for her turn. No; Maria is a karaoke revolutionary, a visionary. Her vision? Maria dreams of a senior karaoke circuit, traveling by luxury bus around the country, performing in karaoke venues all over. What the world needs now is more Maria, but this dream needs planning to reach fruition. There is a definite future plan, mere weeks away - on August 16 and 17 Maria will compete in the National Karaoke Competition at the Skagit Valley Casino in the (no surprise here) “wildcard” category.

At this competition as with all other performances, Maria will be found “dressed” as she calls it, for the show. Perhaps she will perform her current favorite tune, “Don't Get ‘Round Much Anymore” which she sings with conviction and believability that contradicts the truth.

This lady is an unstoppable spitfire for whom we will be clapping and cheering for many more years, hopefully all ‘round the

.